Wycombe come out on top in battle of Wanderers and leave Bolton flirting with the relegation zone

Promotion contenders Wycombe Wanderers completed a league double over relegation-threatened Bolton Wanderers with a 2-0 victory, extending their opponents’ winless run in the process.

Goals either side of half-time from Brandon Hanlan and Jack Grimmer saw the Chairboys earn three points at the University of Bolton Stadium, and even though they remain third in the League One table, Wycombe kept the pressure on second-placed Sunderland who they drew 3-3 with in dramatic circumstances last Saturday.

Since losing 1-0 to Wycombe at Adams Park in November, Bolton have now played six league fixtures. Ian Evatt’s side have earned just four points from those games, losing the last four on the bounce as well as being knocked out of the Papa John’s Trophy in humiliating fashion by Hartlepool United last week.

The situation at the University of Bolton Stadium looks bleak and its occupants now sit just three points above the relegation zone having played the same number of games as Morecambe, who sit 21st and in the final relegation spot.

Last season, Bolton and Wycombe sat two divisions apart, and although that was not necessarily evident during the vast majority of the first half, no form books were to be ripped up come the end of the evening.

The Whites applied all the pressure in the early stages without ever testing Wycombe goalkeeper David Stockdale, and when given the chance, the visitors were characteristically clinical.

Garath McCleary did pass up one opportunity when slid through on goal by Hanlan, having a one-on-one saved by Bolton shot-stopper Joel Dixon, but when Wycombe’s number 18 was given a chance to run at the hosts’ defence, he did not pass up it.

The 24-year-old charged forward, and under no challenge from the Bolton defence, rifled his effort into the back of the net from the edge of the area with predatory instinct.

Gareth Ainsworth’s men have failed to score in just five of their 26 league matches so far this season while Bolton have registered only four clean sheets in their 24 League One outings. It was hardly a surprise that the visitors headed into the interval with the advantage and that they doubled it shortly after the restart.

It took just seven second half minutes for the Chairboys to give their 245 travelling fans another reason to cheer, with the goal coming in fantastic fashion. Defender Jack Grimmer found himself in the area and curled a shot goalwards which fantastically found the top corner of the net.

Of course, the hosts continued to look for a route back into the game, but in truth, it came in a ‘huff and puff’ fashion from most in a white shirt. Bolton’s lack of a clinical edge was clear to see, evidencing further why some fans are frustrated that striker Eoin Doyle was allowed to leave the club without a replacement ready to enter the revolving door.

Two Wanderers sides in contrasting form coming into the League One contest and the 90 minutes only helped to evidence that. Wycombe will certainly hope to wander their way back into the Championship at the first time of asking while Bolton, at the moment, are inadvertently stumbling their way into a relegation battle.

Both return to action again this coming Saturday with Ainsworth’s side welcoming Oxford United while Evatt’s men face Ipswich Town at the University of Bolton Stadium.

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